Gore denies ‘grope’ accusation as police reopen probe

A spokesman for former US vice president Al Gore refuted accusations that he groped a masseuse in Oregon in 2006 and said a newly reopened police probe into the matter would clear his name.

“Further investigation into this matter will only benefit Mr. Gore,” said the statement by Kalee Kreider, the Gore family spokeswoman, issued late Wednesday.

“The Gores cannot comment on every defamatory, misleading, and inaccurate story generated by tabloids. Mr. Gore unequivocally and emphatically denied this accusation when he first learned of its existence three years ago. He stands by that denial,” Kreider said.

The statement was issued as police in the US state of Oregon announced on Wednesday that they had re-opened the four-year-old investigation into the allegations.

A statement on the Portland Police Bureau website said investigators would re-examine the allegations after an earlier inquiry stalled when the Nobel laureate’s accuser declined to be interviewed by police.

“The Portland Police Bureau has made the decision to re-open the case regarding the allegations brought forward against Mr Al Gore,” the statement said.

“Consistent with our policy regarding open investigations, the Police Bureau will not be commenting on any additional specifics regarding this case at this time.”

Last week Michael Schrunk, District Attorney for Multnomah County, said Gore had been accused of “unwanted sexual contact” in late 2006 and early 2007.

“We were told the woman was not willing to be interviewed by the Portland Police Bureau and did not want a criminal investigation to proceed,” Schrunk said in a statement.

The prosecutor’s disclosure followed revelations in the National Enquirer tabloid about a masseuse who complained of sexual advances by Gore during an incident at a Portland hotel in 2006.

Gore, 62, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for his work on raising awareness of climate change, last month confirmed he was separating from wife Tipper after four decades of marriage.